The Invasive Alien Species Threating The World Pine Forests; Fusarium circinatum

Invasive alien species are species that threaten biological diversity by occupying ecosystems outside of natural spreading areas. Among these invasive alien species that change the functions and natural components of ecosystems, especially the ones that are carried by seed and other plant material draw great attention. In pathogens, carried by seeds, have a crucial role in spreading the diseases both domestically and across country borders. Among the important pathogens carried by seeds are a large number of Fusarium species. Fusarium circinatum is one of the most dangerous pathogen of Pinus species, causing damping-off in nurseries and pitch canker in forests. This aggressive fungus may infect pine seeds and, therefore, can easily be spread long distances by the seed trade. It is a very significant threat to natural and planted pine forests, and to date it has invaded countries across five continents. At least 57 species of Pinus along with Pseudotsuga menziesii are susceptible to pitch canker to varying degrees. F. circinatum has recently been listed as a quarantine organism in numerous countries throughout the World. In Europe, it is currently included in the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) A2 list of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests. In addition, according to Regulation on Plant Quarantine Annex-2A, it is a forest pathogen subject to a quarantine list when it is not present in the country. The importance of this microorganism is increasing day by day due to the large-scale losses to pine forestry in various parts of the World. Once alien invasive pests enter the country, they may cause irreversible damage; hence, they set government back significant amount of money. For this reason, control measures against F. circinatum and all other invasive species should be taken and carried out without delay in the world. A thorough understanding of the epidemiology and ecology of the causal agent is an important prerequisite for managing this pathogen. In this study, an extensive search of literature dealing with F. circinatum was performed.